If a criminal background search is required for an employment position or a promotion to a management position within the company, there are several different types of criminal background searches that an employer may use to obtain the information that they need.  The type of criminal background search used will generally depend on the responsibility level of the position, with high level positions requiring more detailed background checks.

Most of the pre employment criminal background searches that are conducted by companies are public record criminal background checks.  This type of criminal search uses the public records found in every court system across the country to find any references to the subject of the search.  Any records that are found that contain the subject's name, birth date, or social security number will be compiled into a single report and returned to the person conducting the background check.

Another type of criminal background search that may be used is a Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal search, which can only be requested by the person that is the subject of the search.  To obtain this type of criminal background search, the person requesting the file must fill out a form and send a certified copy of their fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation to prove their identity.